[Introduced January 11, 2012; referred to the Committee on Health
and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §16-1-19, relating to
a child’s right to nurse; and making a statement by the
Legislature that nursing in a public place is socially
acceptable.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-1-19, to read as
follows:

ARTICLE 1. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

§16-1-19. Child’s right to nurse; location where permitted; right protected.

(a) The Legislature finds that breast feeding is an important,
basic act of nurturing that is protected in the interests of
maternal and child health.

(b) A mother may breast feed a child in any location, public
or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to
be.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to declare a child’s right
to nurse and making a statement by the Legislature that nursing in
a public place is socially acceptable.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.